Doorlatch striker



Nov. I 18, 1930'.

F. J. MCGUINNESS booRLATcH STRIKER Filed Oct. 24, 1928 Suucwiow Ir an/P J M 61 knew 61mm new) Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES FRANK J. MGGUINNESS, OF WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS DGORLATGI-I STBIIKER Application filed October 24, 1928. Serial No. 314,754.

This invent-ion relates to looks and latches and more particularly to a striker adapted to be secured to a door j amb and engaged by the bolt or plunger of a door latch so that a door may be secured in a closed position.

One object of the invention is to provide a striker particularly adapted for use upon an automobile, although it is not restricted to this specific use and may be applied to any door jamb of such construction and dimensions that will accommodate the striker.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a striker reduced in thickness toward its forward end to provide a sloping outer side face and at its forward end terminating in a feathered lip so that the plunger of a door latch may easily move onto the outer surface of the striker across which it passes into position to contact with the rear end face of the striker and securely retain a door closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a striker including rotatably mounted members which project from the sloping outer side face of the striker and are adapted to be engaged by the plunger of a lock and facilitate movement of the plunger across the striker, thereby eliminating danger of the plunger failing to move entirely across the striker into position to firmly secure a door. By this arrangement there will be no danger of the door of an automobile not being properly secured and accidentally swing mg open.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein .Figure 1 is a view showing a portion of a door and door jamb in transverse section and the improved striker in top plan with the plunger of a door latch in position to engagethe striker and secure the door,

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the outer side face of the striker, and V Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the striker taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The improved striker consists of a body or block 1 formed of metal and this body which is rectangular in shape, as shown in Fig. 2, has its corner portions formed with openings 2 through which screws 3 are to be passed to firmly secure the striker against,

the edge face of a door jamb 4:, as shownjin Fig. 1. The outer end portions of the openings 2 are flared'to accommodate the heads of the screws and prevent the screws from projecting outwardly beyond the outer side face of' the striker. A pocket 5 which-opens through the outer side face of the body is formed in the striker and this pocket is, of rectangle shape and so looatedthat the screwreceiving openings are disposed between the pocket and the margins of the-striker. Pins 6 extend transversely through the striker and these pins pass through the pocket transversely thereof in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the striker. The pin which is adjacent the rear end of the pocket carries aroller 7 and each of the remaining pins carry anti-friction balls 8 which turn freely upon the pins and are retained in spaced relation to the walls of the pocket by spacing washers or disks 9. The roller and the anti-frictionballs 8 are of-such size that, when mounted upon the pin'6 within the pocket 5, they project slightly beyond the outer side face of the body of the striker for engagement with the plunger 10 of a latch carried by a door 11. It should be noted that the body portion of the striker'is reduced in thickness from its rear end towards its forward end and,therefore, the outer side face of the striker curves inwardly from its rear end towards its forward end and adjacent the forward end of the striker the outer side face'projeots forwardly at an inward incline to form a Ii 12 which is feathered, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. By having the, striker formed in the manner described above and shown clearly in Fig. 1, the plunger of the door latch may very easily ride into engagement with the outer surface of the striker, when the door is closed. 7 V V 1 When the improvedstriker is in use, it is applied to the side edge face of" the door jamb 4 and preferably secured in a pocket 13 formed therein and secured by the screws 3. The straight out rear end of the striker terminates in spaced relation to the rear end of the pocket 13, thereby leaving ample room for the plunger 10. When the door is closed,

the plunger engages the lip 12 of the striker and as it moves along the outer surface of the striker the plunger will be forced towards a retracted position. It often happens that frictional binding between the plunger and a striker will prevent the door of an automobile from closing tightly unless it is slammed shut, but in view of the fact that I have provided the balls 8 and roller 7 which rotate when engaged by the plunger, frictional binding will be eliminated and the door may be easily closed. When the door is fully closed,

the plunger will have passed the striker and will be projected intotherearend portion of the pocket 13 where it will contact with the straight out rear end face of the striker and very securely retain the door in a closed position. I have, therefore, provided a striker which will be very eflicient in its operation and of such construction and dimensions that it may be easily substituted in place of strikers already in use. Since the balls adjacent the outer end of the pocket are of less diameter than the intermediate balls, the plunger will be permitted to easily ride from one set of balls to the other and since a roller is used at the inner end of the pocket the plunger will be engaged its full width and very easily moved to the position shown in Fig. 1. v Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A striker comprising a block adapted to be secured against a door jamband having a flat inner end face and an outer side face extending from the endface, the block being reduced in thickness towards its other endto facilitate movement of a latch plunger along the block, said block having a pocket opening through its outerside face and spaced from its inner end, pins extending transversely through saidpocket in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof, a roller in the inner end portion of said pocket rotatably mounted upon one pin, and a plurality of balls rotatably carried by each of the remaining pins between the roller and outer end of the pocket, the balls closest to the outer end of the pocket being of reduced diameter and said roller and balls projecting out of the pocket an equal distance and adapted to engage a latch plunger and facilitate movement of the plunger along the block into position to engage the said inner end face of the block in overlapping relation thereto and retain a door closed. I

In testimony whereof I affiX mysignature.

FRANK J. MOGUINNESS. [11.5.] 

